Sunday's gossip column: Football transfers and rumours

For a list of confirmed transfers, check out our transfers page.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are among a host of clubs monitoring Juventus striker Fernando Llorente, 28. The Spain international has struggled since joining the Serie A side on a free transfer this summer.

Full story: Sunday Mirror

Fernando Llorente has scored seven goals in 22 appearances for Spain

Real Madrid will attempt to keep Cristiano Ronaldo out of his former club Manchester United's clutches by offering the 28-year-old forward a five-year deal worth £75m.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 29, wants a £1m pay-off to leave Tottenham after being banished to the reserves.

Full story: Metro

Manchester United manager David Moyes has defended his decision to start forward Wayne Rooney, 27, against Crystal Palace on Saturday, less than four days after he was deemed unfit for international duty with England because of a head injury.

Full story: Sunday Telegraph

Meanwhile, Arsenal will test United's determination to keep Rooney by offering the Old Trafford club £30m for him in the January transfer window.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

Mathieu Flamini has warned Arsenal that he wants to finish his career with the "club of his heart" Marseille. The 29-year-old midfielder started his career with the Ligue 1 side before moving to the Gunners in 2004, rejoining Arsenal this summer after five years at AC Milan.

Full story: Metro

And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's concerns over his lack of cover up front was the reason he blocked 25-year-old striker Nicklas Bendtner's move to Crystal Palace.

Full story: Sunday Express

Barkley has featured in all four Premier League matches for Everton this season

Manchester United and Chelsea are ready to fight it out in an attempt to land Everton's £20m-rated midfielder Ross Barkley. The 19-year-old featured against Chelsea in Everton's 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Full story: Sunday Express

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is set to spend more of the world record transfer fee they received for Gareth Bale, and will target AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy, 20, in the January transfer window.

Full story: the People

Championship side Wigan may make a loan move for Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes, 23, before signing him permanently in a deal worth £9m in the January transfer window.

Full story: Sunday Express

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool are reviewing security at their Melwood training ground after a member of the public scaled a fence and screamed abuse at captain Steven Gerrard, 33, including threats against the midfielder's family.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, 30, has revealed he was tormented all summer by "a little voice in the back of my head" telling him he should have achieved more. The Dutchman scored 30 goals in his debut season for United, but feels guilty about the club's Champions League failure last term.

Full story: the People

Qatar face a battle to hold on to hosting the 2022 World Cup, even if Fifa decides to switch the tournament to winter because of the summer heat in the country.

Full story: Mail on Sunday

Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes his mentor Martin O'Neill is perfectly suited to the vacant Republic of Ireland managerial post and that the 61-year-old's playing career with Northern Ireland would be no bar to that role. O'Neill managed Lennon at Leicester City and Celtic.

Full story: the Observer

Manchester United manager David Moyes says his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson told him the Champion League group the Red Devils are in is "one of the hardest draws United have ever had" in the competition.

Full story: Sunday Telegraph

AND FINALLY

Serie A side Genoa insist that the club's youth coach, Luca De Pra, caught spying on local rivals Sampdoria while dressed in full 'Rambo'-style camouflage gear, was "acting entirely alone".

Full story: the Observer